ChatterBank9 mins ago
I could weep
41 Answers
What has happened to cause these disturbances amongst colour, creed and race in the UK?
I was born in 1961 in a multi cultural society (although I didn't realise that until many years later). I was at junior school with Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims, Irish, Afro Caribbean and a few Jews. Yes, the Irish have their place in this list as times weren't particularly easy for them.
What a great time we all had! Yes, some children had to interpret for their parents when I went for tea, some of my friends took the ham out of their sandwiches when they came for tea at my house. I distinctly remember Boy Scouts having a range of colour and creeds whilst I was a member. I remember some pupils leaving assembly during prayers to attend their own prayers for 5 minutes. I remember with deep embarrassment my mother making a hugely embarrassing comment about my Jamaican friend's hair, but I know she didn't mean any offence.
I remember it wasn't all sunshine. A friend of mine was pushed off her swing and called a black b***, but we played together, Patrick, Ali, Paul Cowen and me. My parents occasionally made the sort of comments you may hear Alf Garnet say but my siblings and I took great offence!
This Islam extremism distresses me. I cannot relate it to my childhood friends, nor their parents. I cannot relate it to any Muslim I know, but it scares me. I try hard to make sure it doesn't make me regard Muslims in a different light but the fact I have to try makes me uncomfortable.
I went through much the same thing when the IRA was bombing British cities.
Does anyone else in my age group feel the same way?
I was born in 1961 in a multi cultural society (although I didn't realise that until many years later). I was at junior school with Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims, Irish, Afro Caribbean and a few Jews. Yes, the Irish have their place in this list as times weren't particularly easy for them.
What a great time we all had! Yes, some children had to interpret for their parents when I went for tea, some of my friends took the ham out of their sandwiches when they came for tea at my house. I distinctly remember Boy Scouts having a range of colour and creeds whilst I was a member. I remember some pupils leaving assembly during prayers to attend their own prayers for 5 minutes. I remember with deep embarrassment my mother making a hugely embarrassing comment about my Jamaican friend's hair, but I know she didn't mean any offence.
I remember it wasn't all sunshine. A friend of mine was pushed off her swing and called a black b***, but we played together, Patrick, Ali, Paul Cowen and me. My parents occasionally made the sort of comments you may hear Alf Garnet say but my siblings and I took great offence!
This Islam extremism distresses me. I cannot relate it to my childhood friends, nor their parents. I cannot relate it to any Muslim I know, but it scares me. I try hard to make sure it doesn't make me regard Muslims in a different light but the fact I have to try makes me uncomfortable.
I went through much the same thing when the IRA was bombing British cities.
Does anyone else in my age group feel the same way?
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I was brought up in West Belfast and taught to hate England, the English, Protestants, the army (in particular) and anything else not Catholic and / or Irish. I actually bought into all that for quite some time too, I however have gone entirely the opposite way to you askyourgran and instead of getting more distrustful, worried and concerned about ethnic diversity I've embraced it and now dont care whose black/ white/ gay /straight/ English/ Irish, Catholic/ Muslim etc etc etc.
For sure there are some nutters about who relish their violence and their insular fundamentalism but they are in the minority on every side. The vast majority of people just want to live good happy lives and we really shouldn't allow anyone in the media to convince us otherwise.
For sure there are some nutters about who relish their violence and their insular fundamentalism but they are in the minority on every side. The vast majority of people just want to live good happy lives and we really shouldn't allow anyone in the media to convince us otherwise.
Thanks a lovely healthy attitude Starbuck.
Although I have lived in rural North Norfolk for 30 years I do miss the diversity of nationalities I mixed with in my younger days. I also had friends and boyfriends of various nationalities and my parents had absolutely no problems with anybody I brought home. I feel priviledged to have had such wise and wonderful parents.
I am married to an Eastern European. Mind you he has been here for 50+ years.
Although I have lived in rural North Norfolk for 30 years I do miss the diversity of nationalities I mixed with in my younger days. I also had friends and boyfriends of various nationalities and my parents had absolutely no problems with anybody I brought home. I feel priviledged to have had such wise and wonderful parents.
I am married to an Eastern European. Mind you he has been here for 50+ years.
Starbuck, I like that someone out there wants to chat rather than blow smoke up each other's socially inept arses, but try making a relevant point again when you've actually worked out how to use the internet: http://en.wikipedia.o...ethlem_Royal_Hospital
tut, rosewhite has been suspended just when he was getting going.
hc4361, was it the Sikh business that prompted this thread? When I suggested you were being over-influenced by the media, I hadn't realised you had had trouble pretty much on your doorstep.
Even so, my advice still stands. I was once within a mile of two IRA bombings, several milles apart, on a single night - one when I was at work, another when I went home again. But I never concluded that all Irish were terrorists, or that society was being torn apart, or even that I was in danger. I'm always in danger, of course, even crossing the road; but I just take what care I can and get on with my life.
When I think of the real dangers our parents and grandparents went through - a very numerous and powerful enemy bombing our cities every night for months - then the actions of a small group of nutters just isn't worth worrying about. Yes, they exist. No, I am not going to give them the satisfaction of living in fear or changing my way of life. They're a minority too tiny to waste my time on.
hc4361, was it the Sikh business that prompted this thread? When I suggested you were being over-influenced by the media, I hadn't realised you had had trouble pretty much on your doorstep.
Even so, my advice still stands. I was once within a mile of two IRA bombings, several milles apart, on a single night - one when I was at work, another when I went home again. But I never concluded that all Irish were terrorists, or that society was being torn apart, or even that I was in danger. I'm always in danger, of course, even crossing the road; but I just take what care I can and get on with my life.
When I think of the real dangers our parents and grandparents went through - a very numerous and powerful enemy bombing our cities every night for months - then the actions of a small group of nutters just isn't worth worrying about. Yes, they exist. No, I am not going to give them the satisfaction of living in fear or changing my way of life. They're a minority too tiny to waste my time on.
Surely, hc, that is the crux of the matter. Children, if allowed to, will get on happily enough with others of their age group irrespective of any colour, race or creed. i grew up in a totally white community. I still live in the town of my birth but things have changed considerably. I treat everyone as I find them. It is silly in the extreme to judge any book by its colour - I found that out many years ago. When my late sister was admitted to Hammersmith Hospital for a heart operation I was amazed by the truly cosmopolitan staff there. We stayed there for 2 weeks and we met only 1 English member of staff. The staff/patient ratio was very high. All the staff were wonderful, whether surgeons, doctors, nurses, ancillary etc. We could have had no better treatment anywhere, imo. When I am thinking of racial issues I always remember Hammersmith with great affection and gratitude. It makes sure I don't assume in a negative way.
I lived through the blitz in Bristol jno. It was really frightening and many people were killed. Can't live in the past though, there is only the present and the future. I often feel like that when I am moaning about my aches and pains and look around, not very far, to see others in far greater pain and distress than I am. I think we should be trying to help each other not hurt each other.
Yes, I too believe the majority of people are good and the majority want the same thing - the best for our children.
Born and bred in Birmingham I saw at first hand the fall out from the IRA bombings, remember the searches to get in to any public building such as the library and the covered up litter bins.
As I said in my OP, I know lots of people from different social, ethnic and religious backgrounds and I get on very well with most of them. If I don't, it's because of personality clashes and not down to the colour of skin or religious beliefs.
But I am scared of Muslim extremism. I can't see how it can do any good for the majority of Muslims nor race relations as a whole.
Many thanks for all the comments. I think I have been lucky in not seeing the poster who has been removed :)
Please don't get the impression that I am in any racist. I am not. I am anti-extremism. I have respect for all the major faiths and enjoy the multi cultural society I live in.
I do feel extremely guilty about this unease I am currently feeling - I don't like it one little bit.
Born and bred in Birmingham I saw at first hand the fall out from the IRA bombings, remember the searches to get in to any public building such as the library and the covered up litter bins.
As I said in my OP, I know lots of people from different social, ethnic and religious backgrounds and I get on very well with most of them. If I don't, it's because of personality clashes and not down to the colour of skin or religious beliefs.
But I am scared of Muslim extremism. I can't see how it can do any good for the majority of Muslims nor race relations as a whole.
Many thanks for all the comments. I think I have been lucky in not seeing the poster who has been removed :)
Please don't get the impression that I am in any racist. I am not. I am anti-extremism. I have respect for all the major faiths and enjoy the multi cultural society I live in.
I do feel extremely guilty about this unease I am currently feeling - I don't like it one little bit.
// I know lots of people from different social, ethnic and religious backgrounds and I get on very well with most of them. If I don't, it's because of personality clashes and not down to the colour of skin or religious beliefs.//
I note what you are saying which is all right as far as it goes but it is religion which creates so much of the stress in our society it modifies a major part of their personality. The more ritualistic it is, the greater it creates barriers. I have had RC , Jewish and Muslim colleagues who were so afraid of their priests they were unable to form a balanced view of life. They were to a certain extent brain washed.
I had a friend who had a disability which meant he was unable to hold down a job and was permanently short of money but he still gave much of it away to his church because he admitted he was frightened not to.
Children don't have that problem and are able to live together but as they get older and their culture takes over that's when barriers and distrust takes over.
I note what you are saying which is all right as far as it goes but it is religion which creates so much of the stress in our society it modifies a major part of their personality. The more ritualistic it is, the greater it creates barriers. I have had RC , Jewish and Muslim colleagues who were so afraid of their priests they were unable to form a balanced view of life. They were to a certain extent brain washed.
I had a friend who had a disability which meant he was unable to hold down a job and was permanently short of money but he still gave much of it away to his church because he admitted he was frightened not to.
Children don't have that problem and are able to live together but as they get older and their culture takes over that's when barriers and distrust takes over.
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